UPDATE: Child seriously injured

An ambulance spokeswoman confirmed that three patients were taken to hospital, two to the Royal Manchester Children’s Hospital, and another patient to Manchester Royal Infirmary.

Among the injured are a mother and child, police confirmed. The child has ‘serious but not critical injuries’.

14:15KEY EVENT

Confirmed: All lanes have been reopened

Here’s confirmation of the reopening from Highways England - along with a warning of continuing delays:

14:10

'All lanes reopened'

Inrix has just issued this update - not yet confirmed by Highways England:

All lanes have been re-opened. Queueing traffic and severe delays due to earlier accident, lorry and car involved on M6 Northbound at J19 A556 (Knutsford), congestion on M6 to J17 A534 (Sandbach / Crewe). Travel time is around 1 hour and 55 minutes. Lanes one and two (of three) were closed as well and the exit slip road until around 2pm.

13:55

Three-hour delays still reported

Highways England still reporting delays of three hours - and that the congestion won’t be cleared until well into the evening rush-hour:

13:25

Two with 'serious injuries'

It’s reported that of the five casualties, three have minor injuries but two are more seriously hurt.

13:16KEY EVENT

Three-hour delays

Delays are now up to three hours, Highways England are warning:

13:13KEY EVENT

Five casualties being treated

Paramedics are treating five patients at the scene, a spokeswoman for NWAS said.

She said:

“We have been called to reports of a road traffic collision. We are treating five patients at the scene. We sent a rapid response vehicle, two ambulances and an air ambulance.”

Paramedics were called just after 11am to the scene.

12:43

Long delays well into afternoon

Traffic England’s live map is currently saying the queues won’t clear until 4pm - but they often over-estimate the length of time. Here’s hoping ...

12:38

Emergency services on the scene

Our traffic information provider, Inrix, is saying this:

Two lanes closed, queueing traffic and exit slip road closed due to accident, lorry and car involved on M6 Northbound at J19 A556 (Knutsford), congestion on M6 to J18 A54 (Middlewich / Holmes Chapel). Travel time is around 1 hour and 40 minutes. Lanes one and two (of three) are closed as well and the exit slip road up towards the roundabout. Emergency services are at scene.

12:33

'120 minute delays'

Queues are stretching back to junction 18:

12:32

'Consider alternative routes'

Here’s the latest update from Highways England:

“There are severe delays on the M6 northbound between Junction 18 and Junction 19 due to a collision at Junction 19.

“2 Lanes on the main carriageway and Junction 19 exit slip are closed.

“Road users intending on using this section of road are advised to allow plenty of extra time for their journey and to consider alternative routes (if possible).”